Abstract
One of the Ethiopian endemic plants used traditionally as medicine for different diseases is Rumex abyssinicus. It is widely known as ‘Meqmeqo’ in Amharic. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize compounds from the root of R. abyssinicus and to test their bioactivities of solvent fractions of the extract. The crude extract was extracted from dried powdered root of the plant with methanol. Then it was fractionated with n‑hexane and ethyl acetate with increasing polarity. The yellow powder obtained from ethyl acetate fractionation was applied to column chromatographic separation that led to the isolation of two compounds, diisobutyl phthalate and emodine. Finally, antibacterial evaluation of the ethyl acetate and methanol soluble portions were carried out against four pathogenic bacteria. Both methanol and ethyl acetate soluble portions inhibited all selected bacterial in better at high concentrations.
Highlights
According to World Health Organization (WHO), traditional medicine is defined as the sum total of all knowledge and practice, in the diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical, mental or social unbalances
The mass and percentage of the crude obtained from 400 g root powder of R. abyssinicus, 79.3 and 19.8 respectively. 20 gm of the crude was taken and successive fractionations were done by n-hexane and ethyl acetate
From the methanol extracted root of Rumex abyssinicus, 79.3 grams of crude extract was obtained by maceration method
Summary
According to World Health Organization (WHO), traditional medicine is defined as the sum total of all knowledge and practice, in the diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical, mental or social unbalances. These practical experiences and observations are being transferred from generation to generation, either verbally or in writing. According to WHO, about 85% of world population uses herbal medicines for. Plants have a long history of use on the African continent for the treatment of different diseases and complaints. In certain African countries, up to 90% of the population still relies exclusively on plants as a source of medicines [3]
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